DJ Screw

DJ Screw, born Robert Earl Davis, Jr. (July 20, 1971 – November 16, 2000), was a central figure in the Houston rap scene. His innovation included the trademark technique of slowing down the basic tracks of a cut when he remixed it. This process is called "screwing" a song. Slowing down the song was supposed to recreate the effect of recreationally using Promethazine with Codeine also known as "lean" or "purple drank" in Houston parlance.

Musical Career

During the early '90s, he invited some of Houston's most renowned rappers from the south side of the city to flow on his Screw tapes. This eventually led to the formation of the Screwed Up Click.

What originally was only a fad of Houston, Screwed and Chopped music started getting more widespread attention with the introduction of p2p programs such as Napster in the late 90s. This ultimately led to DJ Screw getting recognition across the country and being known as one of biggest faces in modern hip-hop.

Born in Smithville, Texas he began DJing at age 13. [1] A few years later he moved to Houston for opportunities as a rap SFX musician.

He released five above ground releases: "All Screwed Up, Vol. 1" (1995), "3 'N the Mornin Part 1" (1995), "3 'N the Mornin Part 2 Red" (1996) "3 'N the Mornin Part 2 Blue" (1996), and "All Work, No Play" (1999). Although DJ Screw only has a handful of above ground releases, he has recorded hundreds of different mixes, released primarily on cassette tape. These are still available for purchase at the "Screwed Up Records and Tapes" located on Cullen Blvd in DJ Screw's hometown Houston which opened in 1998. His mixtapes include titles such as "June 27" and "The Final Chapter."

In the mid-1990s Priority Records offered DJ Screw a lucrative record deal. Screw turned down the offer. Former Priority Records exec Dave Weiner said "It wasn't about the money for him, it was about doing what he wanted to do with his homeboys." [2]

DJ Screw often created "chopped and screwed" versions of famous rap songs. Some notable examples of these tracks include R. Kelly's "I Wish" and Bone Thugs-N-Harmony's "Budsmokers Only".

In 2004, Game Over was a major hit for one of DJ Screw's protégés Lil' Flip. Houston rap artists that have recently signed major record deals, including Chamillionaire, Paul Wall, Slim Thug, and Bun B, owe much of their success to DJ Screw and give proper credit in many of their songs.

Death

DJ Screw died of a heart attack in 2000. His cause of death was rumored in the media to be either a codeine overdose or merely the result of long-term buildup of codeine in his system. However, Screwed Up Click member Z-Ro stated in a 2006 interview that Screw's death came from someone putting methamphetamine into his codeine, and he believes that it was someone very close to the Click who sabotaged him.

In the wake of DJ Screw's death Chopped and Screwed music became a bona fide sub-genre of American music in the early part of the 21st century as nearly every major record label in America released at least one Chopped and Screwed version of a Southern Hip-Hop release in their catalog. (See partial list below)

Partial Discography

• "3 N' the Mornin' Pt. 1
• "3 N' the Mornin' Pt. 2" (exists in 2 versions, blue and red, blue is more with Houston artists such as ESG, Botany Boyz, Al-D, Point Blank, and red is more with Westcoast classic artists, such as 2Pac, Dr. Dre & Ice Cube, Spice 1, Ant Banks, Warren G or DJ Quik)
• "11.16.00" (the date of his death)
• "100% Business"
• "2000 Tears"
• "All Day-N-Da Trey"
• "All Screwed Up, Vol. 2"
• "All Work, No Play"
• "Another Day Another Dollar"
• "As the World Turns Slow"
• "Blowin Big Behind Tint"
• "Blue 22"
• "Blue Over Gray"
• "Can't Hold Yo Hand"
• "Codeine Fiend"
• "Dancin' With Candy"
• "Endonesia"
• "Fully Loaded"
• "G Love"
• "Headed 2 Da League"
• "If The Price Is Right"
• "High Wit Da Blanksta"
• "June 27"
• "Late Night Fuckin Yo Bitch"
• "Leanin' On A Switch"
• "Lets Call Up On Drank"
• "Mash For My Dreams"
• "N' 2 Deep"
• "Next Episode"
• "Playaz Nite"
• "Popped Up Sittin Low"
• "Popped Up, Smoked Up"
• "Screwed Up Texas"
• "Screw Tape In The Deck"
• "Sentimental Value"
• "Show Up & Pour Up"
• "Soldiers United 4 Cash Series"
• "Soldiers United 4 Cash Platinum Edition"
• "Southside Still Holdin'"
• "Stayin' Down"
• "Still A G At 27"
• "Sr8 Wreckin'" (all freestyles)
• "Symptoms Of A Thug"
• "The Final Chapter"
• "The Legend"
• "Unconditional Love"
• "WHERE IT ALL BEGAN APT-110"
• "Who's Next Wit Plex"
• "Wineberry Over Gold"

More Underground Tapes

• "4th Of July"
• "9 Months Later"
• "'98 Live"
• "'97 Live"
• "'96 Live"
• "Back in Yo Ear"
• "Barre"
• "Bitch Leave Me Alone"
• "Crawfish Festival"
• "Crumbs 2 Bricks"
• "Four Corners Of The World"
• "Gees Nite Out"
• "Half On A Gallon"
• "Headin to the Classic"
• "Hold Ya Head" (1st ever tape)
• "Hurricane Duck"
• "Laftex"
• "Mind On My Money"
• "One Life to Live"
• "Outlaws"
• "Pussy Weed and Alcohol"
• "Str8 Puttin it Down"
• "Riches Over Bitches"
• "Robin St. 4 Life"
• "Take it How You Wanna"
• "Telephone Love"
• "Three Years Later"
• "G-Code"
• "Graduation 99"
• "Money Over Bitches"
• "Bangin Down The Strip"
• "Done Deal"
• "Freestyle Kings"
• "It's a Dirty World"
• "Ridin Dirty"
• "Since the Gray Tapes Vol 2"
• "Sippin' Codeine"
• "Southside Most Wanted"
• "Syrup Sippers"
• "Tolu"

• "DJ Screw Freestyles"
• "Ooh Wee Man"
• "Fat Pat Freestyles"
• "98 Freestyles"

See also

• List of Musicians from Houston, Texas
• Houston hip hop

External links

• Screwed Up Records & Tapes - Official site (requires flash)
• Screwed Up Radio - Internet radio station playing DJ Screw 24/7
• Swangin' and Bangin' ... and getting to that other level with the disciples of screw - HoustonPress feature article on DJ Screw by Megan Halverson (published Feb. 1997)
• One Last Spin - HoustonPress article by Craig D. Lindsey on DJ Screw's passing (published Nov. 2000)
• Davey D article regarding the death of DJ Screw [3]
• Murder Dog interview with DJ Screw 8/8/99 [4]